Soft front cockpit cover

ABSTRACT

A foldable roof assembly having a soft panel top assembly for a vehicle in sealing engagement with a hard top portion of a roof. The soft panel top assembly has a fixed portion attached to the vehicle and a lightweight pivotal portion that folds back to provide the occupant a quick and easy open air effect. Two door rails of the soft panel top assembly are connected to the vehicle. Two side bows are attached to a first bow member, which is secured to a windshield frame when in a closed position, and are connected at a pivot point created with a bracket attached to the door rails to allow the pivotal portion to pivot to an open position. The soft panel top assembly includes a rear header that is a wireframe and engages with seals in the hard top roof portion to provide a weatherproof seal.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/808,011, filed Jul. 24, 2015, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/243,359, filed Apr. 2, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat.No. 9,139,073 on Sep. 22, 2015, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/807,506, filed Apr. 2, 2013. Thedisclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a foldable roof assembly having a softpanel top cover that seals against a hard top portion of the roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Foldable stowable roof soft tops are commonly used in sport-utilityvehicles for recreational purposes. The foldable roof is typically movedbetween a stowed position, and a deployed position. When in the deployedposition, the foldable roof protects the occupants of the vehicle fromvarious weather conditions. The foldable roof also includes varioussections which are made of a clear material to essentially function as awindow, allowing the occupant of the vehicle to see outside of thevehicle. However, there are occasions where the weather is pleasant, andit is desired by the occupants of the vehicle to move the foldable roofto an open position such that the vehicle essentially functions withoutpart of a roof or essentially functions without a roof, and thepassenger compartment of the vehicle is exposed to the atmosphere. Thisallows the occupants of the vehicle to enjoy more favorable weatherconditions while driving.

An alternative to the convertible soft top is to use a hard top that isbulky and does not provide any open air feel without removing the entiretop. If the entire hard top is removed, it then must be stored, which isoften difficult because of the size of the top. Other convertible roofsuse a hard top that is large and bulky and does not provide any open airfeel without removing two front top panels, which is also laborious,difficult, time consuming, and ergonomically disadvantageous. If one ormore of the front top panels are removed, they then must be stored,which is often difficult because of the size of the panels. While thiswill give the occupant an open air feel, the panels are large and bulky.If the occupant wants to gain the open air feel they need to exit thevehicle and remove the panels using multiple knobs and latches and thenstore the panels. This makes for a time consuming operation as well as apotential storage issue due to the size of the panels. They are alsohard to handle due to their size and weight and due to the fact theymust be installed and removed over the operators head. In the event ofinclement weather, the panels cannot be quickly put back in place.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a more manageable and easilyfoldable top made of soft material to provide a top that can be openedquickly to provide what is often referred to as an open air feel, wherea portion of the top of the roof is moved from a closed or deployedposition to an open or stowed position exposing a portion of the insidevehicle cockpit/passenger compartment to the outside without removingthe top.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a foldable roof assembly having asoft panel top assembly that is in sealing engagement with a hard topportion of the roof. The soft panel top assembly has a pivotal portionthat is lightweight and folds back without the operator needing to leavethe vehicle to give the occupant a quick and easy sunroof/open airfeeling in the front cockpit. This is done more easily than with typicaltwo-panel hard top systems that are more time consuming to disengagefrom the vehicle and are bulky to handle and remove. The presentinvention also eliminates storage issues since the soft panel top foldsback rather than having to be removed entirely and stored as withconventional hard top panels.

The soft panel top assembly has two door rails connected to side sportbars of the vehicle providing a sealing surface for the doors of thevehicle as well as pivot points for the pivotal portion of the softpanel top assembly. The soft panel top assembly has two side bowsconnected to a first bow member that is secured to a windshield framewith quick release latches. The side bows are connected at a second endto a fixed bracket connected to the side rails creating the pivot pointswith the use of the brackets. The soft panel top assembly includes arear header that is a rear wireframe closeout for sealing engagementwith seals of the hard top roof portion. The soft panel top assembly ismade lightweight by using the wireframe rear header and by using minimalframe and mostly soft goods. This further helps with ease ofinstallation and ease of cycle efforts of the pivotal portion.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front left perspective view of a foldable roof assemblyhaving a soft panel top cover assembly in a deployed position connectedto the vehicle and in sealing engagement with a hard top portion, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear left perspective view of the foldable roof assemblyhaving the soft panel top cover assembly in the deployed position, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear right perspective view of the soft panel top coverassembly in the deployed position, without the soft cover depicted forclarity, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front left perspective view of the soft panel top coverassembly in an open position, without the soft cover depicted forclarity, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the soft panel top cover assembly in anopen position, without the soft cover depicted for clarity, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a right side elevation view of the soft panel top coverassembly in a closed position, without the soft cover depicted forclarity, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a right side elevation view of the soft panel top coverassembly in an open position, without the soft cover depicted forclarity, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a right side elevation view of the soft panel top coverassembly in a partially open position, without the soft cover depictedfor clarity, in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view from the interior side of the soft paneltop cover assembly of FIG. 6 in the closed position, without the softcover and side member, e.g. sport bar depicted for clarity, inaccordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view from the interior side of the softpanel top cover assembly of FIG. 9 in the closed position, without thesoft cover depicted for clarity, in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merelyexemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention,its application, or uses.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-10, there is provided a foldable roofassembly, generally shown at 10, having a soft panel top assembly,generally shown at 12, sealable with a hard top roof portion, generallyshown at 14. The soft panel top assembly 12 is connected to a vehicle16. The vehicle 16 includes a windshield frame 18 with side members 20extending therefrom and a crossmember 22 connecting the side members 20substantially adjacent the rear of the driver/passenger compartment.

The soft panel top assembly 12 folds back to give the occupant a quickand easy open air effect, e.g., lightweight and easily operated at ashort interval stop, without completely removing the soft panel topassembly 12 from the vehicle 16. Folding the soft panel top assembly 12between a closed position and an open position is also achievablewithout the occupant needing to leave the vehicle and eliminates removaland storage of roof panels from the vehicle. Once cycled to the openposition, the soft panel top assembly 12 also does not require strappingthe assembly down to maintain open air positioning.

The soft panel top assembly 12 has a pivotal portion, shown generally at24, for pivoting the soft panel top assembly 12 between the deployed orclosed position and open position. When the soft panel top assembly 12is cycled between the closed/open position, the soft panel top assembly12 is in sealing engagement with the hard top roof portion 14 at asealing portion, generally shown at 26. When the soft panel top assembly12 is in the closed position, the soft panel top assembly 12 seals withthe vehicle windshield frame 18, doors and/or the side members 20, andthe hard top roof portion 14 at sealing portion 26.

The soft panel top assembly 12 has two door rails 28 connected to sidemembers of the vehicle 16. The door rails 28 provide a sealing surfacefor the driver/passenger doors of the vehicle 16 as well as pivot pointsfor the pivotal portion 24 of the soft panel top assembly 12. Each doorrail 28 has two pairs of clamping surfaces 30, each with an uppersurface extending inwardly over the top of the side member and a bottomsurface extending under the bottom of the side member for attaching tothe vehicle 16 using at least two mushroom knob fasteners 32 extendingthrough each pair of the clamping surfaces and side member. Each doorrail 28 has a bracket 34 connected to the door rail 28 to provide thepivot points, generally shown at 36, for the pivotal portion 24 of thesoft panel top assembly 12.

The pivotal portion 24 of the soft panel top assembly 12 has two siderails or bows 38 each connected at a first end to a respective end of aheader or first bow member 40. The first bow 40 is adapted forreleasable attachment to the windshield frame 18 for opening and closingthe soft panel top assembly 12 of the foldable roof assembly 10. Thefirst bow 40 has at least two latches connected thereto that have a handactuated clamping arrangement to selectively connect to the windshieldframe 18. The first bow 40 is preferably molded plastic with steelreinforcement on the bottom and comprises two latches, which when in theclosed position are generally located under the visors of the vehicle,and when cycling to the open position, travel with the first bow 30. Thelatches provide for securing closure of the top to the windshield frame18 and are readily released by an operator for opening of the soft paneltop assembly 12.

The side rails 38 are connected toward the second end of the side rails38 to the door rail pivot points 36 with the use of the brackets 34. Abushing and screw arrangement 42 provide for a pivotal connectionbetween the brackets 34 fixed in place to the door rails 28 and the siderails 38 that freely pivot to allow the top to be cycled open or closed.The side rails 38 have a curved portion, generally shown at 44, toachieve the predetermined range of height needed for the first bowmember 40 to lay above and near without touching the hard top portion 14when in the open position. The curved portions 44 in combination withangled portions, generally shown at 46, at a predetermined angleprovides a preferred predetermined clearance “h” to the hard top portion14 to prevent scratches or damage. Preferably, a latch hook isadditionally provided that functions as a stop that the side rails 38hit to hold the first bow member off the surface of the hard top portion14 to prevent scratches or damage.

The soft panel top assembly 12 has a soft skin or top cover 48 of fabricsewn into two extrusions 50 that are connected to the side rails 38. Thecover 48 can wrap around the front of the first bow member 40 and isconnected to the bow 30. The first bow member 40 provides additionalmounting points for the cover 48 such as snaps for securing the cover 48on the first bow member 40. The length of the side rails 38 incombination with the location of the pivot points 36 allows for movingthe pivotal portion 24 to the open position without folding the fabricin a folded accordion like manner. The cover 48 is additionallyconnected to a rear header member, generally shown at 52. The rearheader 52 has mounting provisions for snaps to mount the cover 48 to therear header 52.

The rear header 52 is a wireframe that is a rear wireframe closeout thatengages the seals 54, e.g., bulb seals, of the hard top portion 14 toprovide a weatherproof seal. The rear header 52 has attachment brackets56 for coupling to the vehicle and/or hard top cover portion 14. Therear header 52 is a bent wire frame welded together to generally matchthe shape of the hard top portion 14 and to seal against the seals 54 ofthe hard top portion 14.

The rear header 52 is secured in place with a plurality of fasteners 58.At least two fasteners 58, preferably, mushroom knobs, secure the rearheader 52 and the hard top portion 14 to the cross member 22 of thevehicle 16. At least two additional fasteners 58, preferably, mushroomknobs, clamp the outer edges of the rear header 52 in place. FIG. 4depicts a knob 58 clamped against the bottom surface of the cross member22 and having a pin portion extending through the cross member 22 andthrough an aperture in the attachment bracket 56 of the rear header 52.As both knobs 58 are tightened and screwed into the cross member 22 ofthe vehicle 16, the knobs 54 help press the rear header 52 against thehard top cover seals 54 of the hard top portion 14.

The left half of the soft panel top cover assembly 12 and correspondingfeatures are substantially mirror image/symmetrical to the right half ofthe soft panel top cover assembly 12 and corresponding features depictedin the figures.

A two door vehicle is depicted in FIG. 1. It is understood that thepresent invention is additionally suitable for a four door vehicle.

By utilizing the pivot points attached to the door rails this allows theoperator to quickly cycle the top from the closed position to the opensunroof position without removing the top. The operator would then beable to cycle the top from the open position to the closed position andlatch the top just as easily. The operator does not need to leave thevehicle in order to operate the top. The whole top is made lightweightby using the wireframe rear header and by using minimal frame and mostlysoft goods. This helps with ease of installation and ease of cycleefforts. The soft panel top assembly enables the occupant to fold thetop back to gain an open air experience without removing the top and canmount to the hardtop without modification to the vehicle. The soft paneltop assembly has significant benefits over typical removable hard topcockpit panels and does not require modification to the vehicle or hardtop roof portion in any way.

The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and,thus, variations that do not depart from the essence of the inventionare intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variationsare not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A panel top assembly for a vehicle having awindshield frame with side members extending therefrom and a crossmember connecting said side members adjacent to the rear of a frontcockpit of said vehicle, said panel top assembly comprising: two doorrails attached to said side members of said vehicle; two side railspivotally connected to said at least two door rails; a first bow memberconnected between said two side rails and adapted to selectively connectto said windshield frame; a roof top opening cover, said cover connectedto at least said first bow member wherein pivoting said two side railsallows said cover to move between a closed position and an openposition; and a rear header member adapted to connect to said cover andto connect to said cross member, wherein said rear header member is inengagement with a hard top roof portion.
 2. The panel top assembly ofclaim 1, further comprising at least two extrusions each connected to arespective one of said two side rails, wherein said cover is connectableto said at least two extrusions.
 3. The panel top assembly of claim 1,further comprising two brackets, wherein a respective one of saidbrackets are each connected to a respective one of said two door railsto provide at least one pivot point on each of said two door rails. 4.The panel top assembly of claim 3, wherein said pivot points areprovided with a bushing and screw arrangement allowing for the pivotalconnection between each of said two brackets and said two side rails,such that said two side rails are pivotal about each pivot point.
 5. Thepanel top assembly of claim 1, wherein said two door rails furthercomprises a plurality of clamping surfaces extending toward the vehicleinterior for connecting each of said two door rails to a respective oneof said side members of said vehicle using at least two fasteners. 6.The panel top assembly of claim 1, wherein the two side rails and firstbow member pivot with a portion of said cover between said closedposition and said open position to provide an open air feel of the paneltop assembly without completely removing the panel top assembly fromsaid vehicle.
 7. The panel top assembly of claim 1, wherein the two doorrails each extend between an A-pillar and a B-pillar of said vehicle. 8.The panel top assembly of claim 1, wherein said front edge of said coveris secured to said first bow member, and covers at least an outwardportion of said first bow member when connected to said windshieldframe.
 9. The panel top assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover issecured to said rear header member and covers at least an outwardportion of said rear header member.
 10. The panel top assembly of claim1, wherein said rear header member further comprises at least twoattachment brackets for connecting said cross member of said vehicle tosaid rear header member using at least two fasteners.
 11. The panel topassembly of claim 10, wherein said at least two fasteners are knob typefasteners and as said knobs are tightened against a bottom surface ofsaid cross member said rear header member is pressed against sealsbetween said rear header and said hard top roof portion.
 12. A panel topassembly for a vehicle, comprising: two door rails attached to sidemembers of said vehicle; two brackets, wherein a respective one of saidbrackets are each connected to a respective one of said two door rails;two side rails pivotally connected to said at least two door railswherein a respective one of said brackets connects each side rail toeach door rail creating at least one pivot point on each of said twodoor rails; a first bow member connected to said two side rails andadapted to selectively connect to a windshield frame; a roof top openingcover, said cover connected to said first bow member, wherein pivotingsaid two side rails about said pivot points moves said cover between aclosed position and an open position; and a rear header member that isadapted to connect to said cover, wherein said rear header member is inengagement with a hard top roof portion.
 13. The panel top assembly ofclaim 12, further comprising at least two extrusions connected to arespective one of said two side rails, wherein side edges of said coverare connectable to said at least two extrusions.
 14. The panel topassembly of claim 13, wherein said cover is sewn to said at least twoextrusions.
 15. The panel top assembly of claim 12, wherein said pivotpoints are provided with a bushing and screw arrangement allowing forthe pivotal connection between each of said two brackets and each ofsaid two side rails, such that each one of said two side rails arepivotal about each respective one of said pivot points.
 16. The paneltop assembly of claim 12, wherein said two door rails further comprisesa plurality of clamping surfaces extending toward the vehicle interiorfor connecting each of said two door rails to a respective one of saidside members of said vehicle using at least two fasteners.
 17. The paneltop assembly of claim 12, wherein the two side rails and first bowmember pivot with a portion of said cover between said closed positionand said open position to provide an open air feel of the panel topassembly without completely removing the panel top assembly from saidvehicle and without an operator exiting the vehicle to deploy or openthe panel top assembly.
 18. The panel top assembly of claim 12, whereinsaid rear header member further comprises at least two attachmentbrackets for connecting said cross member of said vehicle to said rearheader member using at least two fasteners, wherein said at least twofasteners are tightened against a bottom surface of said cross membercausing said rear header member to press against said hard top roofportion.
 19. A panel top assembly for a vehicle having a windshieldframe with side members extending therefrom and a cross memberconnecting said side members adjacent to the rear of a front cockpit ofsaid vehicle, said panel top assembly comprising: two door railsattached to said side members of said vehicle; two brackets, wherein arespective one of said brackets are each connected to a respective oneof said two door rails; two side rails pivotally connected to said atleast two door rails wherein a respective one of said brackets connectseach side rail to each door rail creating at least one pivot point oneach of said two door rails; a first bow member connected between saidtwo side rails and adapted to selectively connect to said windshieldframe; a roof top opening cover, said cover connected to said first bowmember, wherein the pivot points create a pivotal portion comprisingsaid two side rails and said first bow member where pivoting said twoside rails about said pivot points moves said cover between a deployedposition and an open position; and a rear header member adapted toconnect to a top surface of said cross member, wherein the shape andconnection of said rear header member to said cross member brings saidrear header member into engagement with a hard top roof portion.